In a major new study, the think tank analysed data from every neighbourhood in England to develop a Car Dependency Index (CDI). The analysis combines data on car ownership, the share of residents commuting to work by car, the relative travel times to jobs and key amenities by car and public transport, and population density.

Over the last 15 years, homes have been increasingly built in places where people were reliant on cars for transport, according to the Index. The trend towards car dependency is present in every region outside of London.

The public transport travel times from England’s new homes to town centres, jobs, hospitals and schools have risen steadily over the same period, making it harder for people to travel sustainably. The report argues that forcing people into car dependency will have a significant negative impact on the Government’s ability to meet carbon emissions targets, boost active travel, and support inclusive economic growth.

An increase in homes being built in rural areas is identified by the report as a key reason for the increase in car dependency. Rural areas make up one-sixth of England’s population but accounted for one in four new homes built since 2018. The research reveals a stark difference in the average time taken to reach key amenities on public transport from new builds built in rural areas compared with urban. In 2023, the average public transport time from new builds in rural areas was:

• 62 minutes to the nearest hospital (compared with 28 minutes from new builds in urban areas).
• 37 minutes to the nearest supermarket (compared with 12 minutes from new builds in urban areas).
• 43 minutes to the nearest secondary school (compared with 17 minutes from new builds in urban areas).

The availability of cheap greenfield land and low levels of political opposition to new developments in more remote areas have led to more housebuilding in rural areas. The report argues that another key driver of car dependency was the location of new urban homes, which has increasingly favoured the worst-connected areas on the fringes of towns and smaller cities.

“Everybody wants to live in a place where it’s easy for them to access what they need for a good life,” said Emmet Kiberd, researcher at the NEF. “But across the country, millions have little choice but to use their car to get to work, access healthcare, and take their kids to school. This car dependency is expensive for individuals, damaging for the health of communities, and impeding our ability to tackle the climate crisis.

“Years of poor planning and inadequate funding for public transport have locked us into this mess. But, as it looks to build 1.5m new homes, the Government should reverse this trend, avoid making the same mistakes in its grey belt policy, and integrate transport planning within housing planning. In doing so, it will help tackle the cost-of-living crisis, reduce inequalities, and bring down carbon emissions.”

To address car dependency, the report recommends:

• using data-informed, strategic planning at a regional level to decide on the best location for new-build developments, with democratic input from residents;
• the integration of transport planning with housing planning as well as proper funding for sustainable transport infrastructure in new areas;
• making the release of grey belt for housing developments conditional on the provision of good levels of public transport;
• giving powers and funding to local government over the compulsory purchase of land at, or close to, use value for development; and
• restoring funding to local authority planning departments to improve their capacity and capabilities.

The full report, ‘Trapped behind the wheel’, is sponsored by Go Ahead.